Postal tube.



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POSTAL was.

(Application-510d In. 58, 1900.) v

v: Noam: Pmns w mo'rauwa, WJSHINOYON o 1 7 (No I odol UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEVENSON & ORR, LIM

POSTAL ITED, OF SAME PLACE.

TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,663, dated January 8, 1901. Application filed January 23, 1900- Serial No. 2,467. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL LYNN, stationer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Linenhall Works, Belfast, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postal Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to postal tubes or similar devices for enabling rolls of papers, drawings, or the like to be transmitted through the post or otherwise from one place to another without the liability of their becoming crushed during transit.

The object of my invention is to so construct these tubes as to dispense with the necessity of having to insert and remove the roll into and from the ends of the tube, and thus avoid the liability of tearing, defacing, or otherwise injuring the roll during such operation.

According to my invention I construct the tube so that it can be opened and closed longitudinally, for which purpose it may be made in two parts or halves, connected along two of their meeting edges by a strip of suitable material which serves as a species of hinge on which the two parts or halves can turn. I prefer to make this hinge-like connection by means of a flap or wrapper composed of paper or other suitable material, which is gummed or otherwise connected to the tube along the line of juncture of the two meeting edges. This flap or wrapper is made of a size to permit of its extending around the tube for a sufficient distance to cover the other two meeting edges and is at such part gummed or provided with any other adhesive agent. When the tube is closed and the gummed edge of the wrapper caused to adhere to the said tube, it will serve to temporarily retain the parts in their closed position.

The ends of the tube are preferably pro; vided with internal strips, bands, or projections, which serve to prevent the roll from being withdrawn from the tube endwise, and in addition to these end pieces I may employ tabs of thick manila paper or other suitable material extending inwardly from the said end pieces, so as to further assist in preventing the removal of the roll endwise from the tube. These tabs may be of any length required by the nature of the contents.

I will now more. fully describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the tube when open. is closed; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the tube, drawn on a larger scale.

A A are the two parts or halves composing the body of the tube.

B is the flap or Wrapper, which is securely connected at the edge I) to the tube along the line of juncture of the meeting edges a.

b is the loose edge of the wrapper, which is gummed or otherwise provided with an adhesive agent to permit of its adhering to the said tube in order to close the same, as already explained. The said flap or wrapper is of such dimensions that it will, when the tube is closed, effectually cover the loose meeting edges a, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By simply cutting through this flap along the line a, Fig. 2, the loose meeting edges of the said tube will be liberated and said tube can then be opened box fashion and the contents lifted out. The said Wrapper may, if desired, be utilized for receiving the name and address of the party to whom the postal tube is to be delivered, and in such case the use of an ordinary wrapper will be unnecessary. It will, however, be obvious that I may adopt any convenient means for retaining the loose edges of the tube closed, so long as said means will permit the loose edges to be readily separated when it is desired to open the tube. If the hinge-like connection is to be made extra strong, I may use a strip of textile fabric for making the said connection.

0 C are the internal strips or bands, which are securely fixed at the ends of the tube on the inside thereof, thus forming annular projections that act as stops to prevent the removal of the roll endwise from the tube when the latter is closed.

0 C are the tabs, of thick manila paper or other suitable material, that extend inwardly from the said end pieces C C to further assist in preventing the roll from being removed endwise from the tube.

Fig. 2 is a similar view when the tube I do not wish to confine myself to the use of annular end pieces 0 such as are illustrated in the drawings, as any other means may be employed for contracting theends of the tube to prevent the roll from being removed endwise therefrom.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A postal tube consisting of two longitudinal parts, of a flap, one edge of which is permanently connected to the said tube along two of the meeting edges of the aforesaid parts to form a species of hinged joint therefor, while the other edge of said flap is loose, of an adhesive substance on the loose edge of the flap to secure it to the'loose meeting edges 0t" joint, a flap upon the other edge of one of said members adapted to be affixed to the other member to hold the members closed, the ends of the tube thus formed by said members being open and provided interiorly with inwardly-facing shoulders or projections and tabs extending inwardly from said projections.

4. A postal tube consisting of two longitudinal parts, of a flap connected to said tube along two, of the meeting edges of the aforesaid parts to form a species of hinge-joint therefor, of an adhesive substance on the loose edge of the flap to cover and be affiXed to the loose meeting edges of the tube to temporarily retain the latter closed, of internallydisposed annular end pieces which act to prevent the withdrawal of the roll endwise from the tube and of internal tabs for further assisting inpreventing the removal of the roll endwise from the tube substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 4th day of January, 1900.

SAMUEL LYNN.

Witnesses:

JOHN REID, THOMAS JOHNSTON. 

